Cost of Living Comparison Between Sorsogon City and Makati Cost of Living Comparison Between Sorsogon City and Makati

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $723 in Sorsogon City versus $1,228 in Makati.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,104 in Sorsogon City versus $2,025 in Makati.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,486 in Sorsogon City versus $2,822 in Makati.

Living in Sorsogon City costs roughly 41% less than in Makati, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sorsogon City 47% lower, Makati 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82 ₱239
$6.57 ₱411
-41.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.72 ₱921
$39.99 ₱2,501
-63.19%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.77 ₱173
$4.59 ₱287
-39.65%
Cappuccino
$2.23 ₱140
$2.76 ₱173
-19.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 ₱38.80
$1.07 ₱67.2
-42.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₱19.82
$0.45 ₱28.17
-28.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.07 ₱66.7
$2.42 ₱151
-55.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 ₱119
$3.25 ₱203
-41.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.68 ₱105
$1.83 ₱115
-8.20%
White Bread (500g)
$1.15 ₱71.9
$1.29 ₱80.6
-10.85%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.92 ₱57.7
$1.03 ₱64.3
-10.68%
Eggs
$1.98 ₱124
$2.38 ₱149
-16.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.78 ₱299
$7.31 ₱457
-34.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.06 ₱254
$4.84 ₱303
-16.12%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.09 ₱443
$7.19 ₱449
-1.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.69 ₱168
$3.98 ₱249
-32.41%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ₱101
$2.03 ₱127
-20.69%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.52 ₱158
$3.26 ₱204
-22.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 ₱73.8
$2.31 ₱144
-48.92%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 ₱125
$3.47 ₱217
-42.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 ₱113
$3.47 ₱217
-47.84%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 ₱45.60
$1.12 ₱70.0
-34.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 ₱32.39
$1.11 ₱69.4
-53.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97 ₱186
$2.70 ₱169
10.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.19 ₱512
$7.86 ₱491
4.20%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93 ₱58.3
$1.40 ₱87.4
-33.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 ₱126
$2.08 ₱130
-2.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 ₱14.56
$0.90 ₱56.1
-74.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.87 ₱617
$57.3 ₱3,582
-82.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.82 ₱51.4
$0.61 ₱38.10
34.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.25 ₱15.53
$0.21 ₱13.10
19.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 ₱123
$1.88 ₱117
4.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱81.7
$1.25 ₱78.3
4.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K ₱1.4M
$21.3K ₱1.3M
3.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$17.8K ₱1.1M
$19.7K ₱1.2M
-9.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 ₱8,391
$154 ₱9,612
-12.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.74 ₱1,047
$15.78 ₱987
6.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.64 ₱1,541
$32.11 ₱2,008
-23.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.25 ₱1,767
$54.6 ₱3,413
-48.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42 ₱276
$14.41 ₱901
-69.33%
Cinema Ticket
$5.20 ₱325
$7.39 ₱462
-29.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$121 ₱7,555
$790 ₱49.4K
-84.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,583 ₱536.8K
$7,405 ₱463.1K
15.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.66 ₱2,293
$59.8 ₱3,742
-38.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.37 ₱1,274
$37.65 ₱2,354
-45.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.0 ₱4,939
$82.2 ₱5,138
-3.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$49.76 ₱3,112
$103 ₱6,469
-51.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$251 ₱15.7K
$748 ₱46.8K
-66.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 ₱9,373
$430 ₱26.9K
-65.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₱30.1K
$2,276 ₱142.4K
-78.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$377 ₱23.6K
$1,080 ₱67.5K
-65.09%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,434 ₱152.2K
$6,003 ₱375.4K
-59.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,106 ₱69.2K
$3,832 ₱239.6K
-71.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sorsogon City
Makati
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$610 ₱38.1K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.75
7.5
-10.00%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sorsogon City: August 30, 2026

Last update for Makati: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $251 in Sorsogon City and $748 in Makati. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Sorsogon City vs $40.00 in Makati for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $231 per month, with Sorsogon City cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Sorsogon City vs Makati: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sorsogon City or Makati?
Sorsogon City wins on cost – living expenses run 70% lower than in Makati. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sorsogon City the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Sorsogon City and in Makati?
You'd need roughly $1,084 in Sorsogon City and $1,842 in Makati to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sorsogon City compared to Makati?
Rent for a central apartment: $251 in Sorsogon City versus $748 in Makati. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Sorsogon City compared to Makati?
All in, you'll spend $723 per month in Sorsogon City versus $1,228 in Makati – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Sorsogon City compared to Makati?
A monthly transit pass in Sorsogon City runs roughly 480% less than in Makati. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Sorsogon City or in Makati?
At $723 in Sorsogon City versus $1,228 in Makati, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sorsogon City but tight or insufficient in Makati. The gap between the two cities makes Sorsogon City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sorsogon City or Makati?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sorsogon City delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $723 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sorsogon City hard to pass up.
How safe is Sorsogon City compared to Makati?
Safety-wise, Sorsogon City and Makati are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sorsogon City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Makati. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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